CLIVIGER'S third carnival organised by the village's recreation area appeal was a great success despite overcast skies.

This year's event was held at the sports field on Mount Lane where the stalls and large entertainments arena benefited from the greater space.

The parade was led through the village by a pony and trap which carried Cliviger residents former Brookside star John McArdle and his actress wife Kathy Jameson, who officially opened the fete. In the procession was carnival queen Lauren Myers and her attendants, Rebecca Hodgson and Laura Nichols.

Floats included the Royal British Legion and Cliviger Play Group, but the winning entry, judged by the former landlady at the Queens, Agnes Kershaw, came from Cliviger Brownies who beat the uncertain weather by parading swimsuits, wellies and brollies!

Utopia March and Brass Band played in the parade and in the central arena. Formerly East Lancashire Girls and Boys Brigade, the youngsters are looking for new talent and anyone aged eight to 25 should go along to Walshaw High School, Burnley on Wednesdays from 7 to 9pm. Children and adults were invited by Burnley Play Association into the arena for sack races and ball and spoon races - organisers decided eggs were too expensive!

Burnley Dog Rescue showed off their animals in an agility demonstration and there were plenty of stalls selling everything from plants to refreshments.

Chairman Jackie Hodgson said: "We are hoping to raise about £2,500 from this year's carnival.

"This site is bigger than the previous one on Burnley Road and has enabled us to have more stalls.

"We had about £23,000 raised so far but we want to raise an extra £3,000 to £4,000 so we can put the footings in for a building on the Park Road site.

"And it makes more sense to do that now while all the other work is going on to create the recreation area."

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